What Should You Do When Your Back Is Causing Agonising Pain?

We’ve all had the odd ache or pain in the back from time to time. But for a few unlucky souls it can be absolutely excruciating. If you one of those souls you need to read on. If you’re not one of those read on anyway so you’ll know what to do if you or one of your loved ones are struggling now or in the future.

Back Pain Safety Points

Before we carry on, if you’re reading this we need to establish if you should be reading this or ringing for an ambulance! This will only be a tiny percentage of people, so don’t panic, but my training instils better safe than sorry. You need to answer the following questions:

When you sit down can you feel the seat beneath you? If that area feels completely numb don’t panic, you’re not going to die, but you do need to seek medical advice immediately.

Are you having problems with urinating or making bowel movements? If yes, same as above, give the medics a call and explain your symptoms.

Do you have pins and needles down both legs? As above.

If you’re still with us. That’s a good thing! But you still maybe in a whole heap of pain. So what are you to do?

Don’t Panic

Now it’s easy for me to say sat here with no pain but this is super, super important. Our latest beliefs in terms of pain science suggest that the more you fear something the more it will hurt. Most pain in back pain comes from muscles. They have the most pain receptors (nociceptors) in them. Do you think it will hurt more or less if you tense up against the pain?

A very simple concept which we get all of our clients to understand is that “Pain is not damage.” A lot of people are surprised by this. But it does make perfect sense. Here’s an example to illustrate the point.

You’re walking down the street, you go over on your ankle and shout in anguish fearing a sprained ankle. You take a couple more steps and realise everything is fine. You got the pain before you did any damage. Pain is there as a warning. Pain does not mean you are making things worse!

Take a Deep Breath – Lots Of Them In Fact

Breathing helps. It brings oxygen to the tissues. Without oxygen muscles tire out quicker meaning they become tense which would increase your pain experience. Try getting into a position of comfort and doing some slow relaxing breathing. If breathing hurts just breathe within a pain free range. The range should increase in time as you relax into the breathing exercise.

You May Wish To Consider Taking Some Tablets

Now I have to be very careful with this advice and word it correctly. I am not medical or a doctor and cannot therefore give out advice on medication. However, if you are in severe pain and you haven’t already done so than you may wish to take an over the counter painkilling and/or anti-inflammatory medication in the dosages suggested. You can take both simultaneously but read the packet to be sure. If in any doubt please consult your doctor or pharmacist first. Speaking of which…

Visit Your Doctor!

I would advise getting to your doctor at the earliest available moment. They will be able to give you super dooper drugs to knock you out to take the edge off the pain. They will also screen you for anything more scary than back pain.

Why is a Sports Therapist so keen on medication? Because it means you can function at least semi normally. The more pain you’re in, the more your movement pattern changes and the more work we have to do when you come to see us. If you can barely move when you come in there’s only so much we can achieve. If you’ve got some medication to take the edge off the pain we can get to work resolving the problem for good.

Keep Moving

Now there maybe occasions where this is not the best advice. Namely when you’ve broken your back. I’m hoping you’ll have realised if you’ve done that. It would have been a fairly nasty event and you’re very unlikely to have broken anything without noticing!

Whilst it may hurt to get around you are much better off moving than your are static. You will only stiffen and tighten. Moving around loosens muscles. A major pain causing structure. Equally it has a lovely massaging effect on nerves. Another pain causing structure, especially in severe pain. It means they are nourished and get a fresh lot of lubrication, Castrol GTX for the nerves if you will, to enable them to slide and glide easier. This will cause less pain. Mobile nerves are happy nerves!

If you’re walking along and it’s simply no good. It’s not helping or just making things worse – this will be a minority – simply try to find a position of comfort. It doesn’t matter what it is, anything that takes the edge off. Stay there are a while and do some of that relaxing breathing we were talking about.

The Future Is Bright – Back Pain Is Curable

All the literature tells us that the vast majority of back pain gets better. As soon as you are able to move without excessive amounts of pain come and see us or an equivalent service and ask them to get you sorted for good. There are normally specific things you do or muscles you have overworked that have got you into this mess in the first place. Once these have been sorted you’ll be footloose and fancy free before you know it.

Treatment can begin immediately and we will aim to restore pain free range of movement. This can be achieved by correcting abnormal movement patterns elsewhere meaning that we can reduce the sensation in the injured area without have to touch the painful area.

Having reduced your pain we will then talk you through the best strategy to help you manage the condition in the short term and fix the problem for the long term.

If you would like more information on back pain then click our back pain page. If you have associated sciatica with you back pain you may wish click to our dedicated sciatica page.

Call us now 01273 921831

Dr Rank gives a medical perspective on the effectiveness of our treatments

Personal Trainer Kirsty - Knee Pain Gone

Dr Knight - Medical Doctor and Triathlete

Carol - Migraines

I have experienced some pain in the back of my knee. I have been to see Jamie and have to compliment his professional knowledge. He has the great ability to explain complex issues. He gave me lots of advise on how to treat my pain with everyday movements. Apart from his expertise, I would like to point out that Jamie is a very approachable and friendly person. I would highly recommend him!

CC

I picked up an IT band knee injury while training for the Brighton marathon this year that prevented me running any more than 5-10k without serious pain. I’d all but given up hope of running the marathon after trying various things to fix it without success. I started seeing Jamie less than 6 weeks before the marathon and after about 3-4 session I was able to run a lot further with much less pain. By the day of the marathon, my knee felt almost completely better, and I ran the whole thing with no knee pain at all! I don’t claim to fully understand everything Jamie does, but it definitely works. Amazing stuff & highly recommended!

BK

I compete in a lot of endurance sports and high impact sports too. I have seen Jamie for a few years now and he is among the very best I have seen (and I’ve seen a few over the years!) Highly recommended.

NL

Meeting Jamie for the first time was a very enjoyable experience, he explained a whole new way of the strains I had been putting on my body through Marathon running, tennis and bad posture, Within 30 mins he was working away and my body started to feel 10 years younger. A completely new and invigorating approach to back and muscles problems that I had battled with over the years.

Jamie is extremely good at getting fast results and you back on track with your exercise routines and he even sets you homework

I would have no hesitation of recommending BST to any one

AB

Jamie knows what he’s doing, though don’t expect traditional physiotherapy. I visited with a calf tear recovery problem after a recommendation by a friend. I couldn’t run without damaging it over and over again. Jamie’s holistic approach had me running again within the month, and I’m still running, building up distance again. While he was at it he’s helped massively with problems with my ankle and shoulder, definitely seek him out if you’re having problems.

SM

This guy knows his onions. After several Ironmans and too many marathons I was looking for someone to activate underused muscle groups and to help me feel less creaky overall. After sessions with BST I felt great and left with a whole new understanding of the human body. Jamie shared a lot of new and interesting insights and gave me a series of treatment that really worked.

SC

As an ultrarunner I approached Jamie Webb with much trepidation, expecting the usual advice to stop running silly distances and I wouldn’t be complaining of injuries. Instead, I was met with complete acceptance of ‘what I do’ combined with consistent ‘work’ on the source of my injuries/complaints. I couldn’t recommend Brighton Sports Therapy highly enough. It has been a joy to finally run pain-free again. My running complaints have ranged from ankle injuries to IT-band trouble, lazy glutes, core and hip stresses and strains … ALL of which I can happily say are currently in the best condition they can be in. Will I stop running? No. But the holistic approach of Brighton Sports Therapy has allowed me to continue, improve and race pain-free. Thank you.

AH

A few months ago as I began to have problems with my right knee, and on some occasions was unable to put weight on it when going up steps or uphill, I asked on Facebook if anyone knew of any good physiotherapists in my area, and I was recommended Jamie Webb. I went along and was assessed, with all aspects of my health taken into account, Jamie diagnosed a muscle imbalance, and immediately began working on releasing muscles in many parts of my body, but strangely (not to him) this had the effect of strengthening the muscles around my knee. I have since completed a 100k non stop walk, plus have trekked round Iceland with no further problems to my knee (or any other part of my poor body). I assure you that if Jamie is given a body suffering in any way from the traumas of sport, he will have you diagnosed, and be working on the problem within the first 30 minutes of your appointment, and you WILL leave after the 1st hour already aware of improvement.

DP

I can honestly say that’s the best money I’ve ever spent! I’d been struggling with a football injury for months and Jamie made a massive improvement in the first session. I’m now able to go into tackles 100% knowing that my ankle will be fine. I no longer need any more treatment, that’s how good things are, but if I do get another injury I know exactly who I’ll be ringing!

AP

Disclaimer: The testimonials above are the opinion of a few of our clients. Results to treatment cannot be guaranteed. We can guarantee we’ll be doing everything we can get you back to your best ASAP.